Radiator cleaning device



Nov. 19, 1940. J. E. KROBUSEK RADIATOR CLEANING v DEVICE Fi'led Aug. 21,1939 INVENTQR JOSEPH E. KROBUSEK ATTOR EY Patented Nov. 19,1940

UNITED. STATES PATENT OFFICE j mm'roa CLEANING navrca Joseph EdwardKrobusek, Springfield, Mo. Application August 21, 1939, Serial No,291,216 2 Claims. (01. 285- 430) (Granted under the act or March 3,1883, as amended April 30, 1928; 370 0. G. 757) The invention relates toimprovements in radiator cleaning machines in which a means is providedfor quick and secure application of the machine to radiators withvariable sized orifices,

without mechanical change, with means to inject live steam underpressure, water under pressure, and air under pressure separately ortogether, and with manually operated valves to control the fiow andpressure of each at the will of the opera l0 tor; and the objects of theimprovement are, first,

to provide a simple machine readily attachable to the injection into theradiator of water to wash.

and flush out dislodged and loosened foreign substances from theradiator; second, to provide an adjustable union to connect theinjection pipe of a radiator cleaning machine to variable sized radiatororifices, without mechanical changes and without the removal of theradiator, with adjustable means to connect the same securely against thepressure of steam, air and water; and third, to provide a simple,compact radiator cleaning machine, with a minimum of destructible parts,each cheaply and readily replaceable, with a an adjustable union forconnecting with radiators having variable sized orifices, permitting thecooking of chemical dissolvents within the radiator without the removalof the radiator, and the whole possessing simplicity and novelty ofdesign.

One form of the invention is illustrated in'the V accompanying drawing,in which Figure 1 is a side view of the entire machine in place andattached to an automobile radiator; Figure 2 is a view of a part of themachine showing the ad- 5 justable union in detail with the partsthereof sufiiciently separated to illustrate their use; Figure 3 is aview of the clamp illustrating its'adjustability, and which is providedwith slot-ways to permit centering of the tension bolts irrespective ofthe diameter of the pipe around which it is clamped to produce equalpressure at all points between the cone-shaped union and pipe attachedto radiator; Figure 4 is a detailed view n perspective of the adjustableclamp showing the 58 tension bolts adjusted to center in the slot-ways;

Figure 5 is an enlarged view of the cone-shaped union mounted on theinjection-pipe of the radiator cleaning machine, with a pressure nut atthe small end of the cone-shaped union designed to prevent the injectionpipe from being forced out 6 of the cone-shaped union by pressure ofair, steam or water, and showing the compression-collar mounted on theinjection pipe; and Figure 6 is a detailed view in perspective of thecompressioncollar mounted on the injection-pipe of the radiam torcleaning machine showing notches in the compression-collar suitablyspaced to produce in combination center adjustment of tension bolts inthe clamp slot-ways an equal pressure. at all points on the cone-shapedunion by means of 1. thumb-nuts threaded upon the tension bolts.

The radiator I may. be an automobile radiator or any cellular, tubularor honeycomb structure, or any closely confined structure including thewater cooling area of a water cooled motor, in 2?; which foreignsubstance may accumulate and need dissolving and removal, and forms nopart of the invention but illustrates only one of its many uses.

The pipe 2 and pipe 3 is no part of the invenas tion but serves toillustrate the conventional inlet and outlet of typical automobileradiators and either of which provides a suitable means of coupling theradiator cleaning machine to an automobile radiator; although notillustrated similar, or substantially the same, inlets and outlets are apart of all structures to which the radiator cleaning machine isapplicable.

The clamp 4 is adjustable to fit variable sized pipes 2 and 3 and may beprovided with a thumb as or wing nut for ease of clamping securelywithout the use of tools.

Tension bolts 5 extend from the clamp 4 to compression-collar I andmaybe provided with thumb or wing nuts 8 for ease of applying com- 0 Ipression force to compression-collar 1 without the use of tools. v

The cone 6 mounted around injection-pipe 9 in combination with theadjustable clamp 4, tension bolts 5, nuts 8 and compression-collar I, uwhen applied to pipes 2 and/or 3 form an adjustable union to couple theradiator cleaning machine to a radiator or other structure to becleaned.

Injection-pipe 9 may be curved (see Fig. 1) to 50 produce a convenientposition of manually operated valves 10 for ease of operation.

Pipes H, I! and I3 are designed to carry, each respectively, air, steamand water, and valves 10 interposed therein provide the means of manullally controlling both flow and pressure as against the back pressure ofthe radiator or other structure to be cleaned. Air, steam and water areto be carried to pipes ll, l2 and II by means of hose extensions ormetal pipe extensions with flexible couplings. Pipes ll, l2 and II areconnected to pipe 9, and they may be joined by suitable pipe fittings ormay be cast in one piece.

Clamp 4 except where slot-carriers l5 are mounted is constructed ofmetal sufliciently pliable to permit expansion for applying to pipes 2or 3 and contraction upon pipes 2 or I by means of tension bolt l8passing through the lips IT, with a thumb or wing nut i9 to permit ofadequate pressure without the use of tools, or in lieu of nut IS anordinary nut may be used to be turned against pressure with pliers orwrench (see Fig. 3). Slot-carriers I5 may be an integral part of clamp 4or may be made separate and attached to clamp 4 by riveting, welding orother means. Slot-ways i8 provide slots through which tension bolts 5pass and permit adjustment of tension-bolts 5 to center irrespective ofthe circumference of clamp 4 when contracted around pipes 2 or 3 (seeFig. 4).

Cone 6 may be constructed of rubber, cork or any material providing bothstrength and sufflclent plastic quality to readily form a seat undermild pressure against pipes 2 or 3. Cone 6 is mounted around injectionpipe 9 with a part of injection pipe 9 extending beyond the small end ofthe cone to permit pressure-nut l4 to be threaded upon injection-pipe 9.Pressure-nut l4 is designed to prevent injection-pipe '9 being 40 (seeFig. 6) in which tension bolts 5 are readily placed without removingnuts 8; threading nuts 8 on tension bolts 5, when placed in the notches20, produces a pressure on compression-collar I.

and compression-collar I, in turn, compresses cone 8 into pipes 2 or 3to form a seat to prevent tion an injector nozzle for conducting acleaning fluid under pressure into the object to be cleaned, a conicalsealing member surrounding the nozzle to an object to be cleanedincluding in combinaand adapted to be seated in an outlet of the-objectbeing cleaned, an adjustable clamp to engage the said outlet, segmentalears mounted on the clamp, said ears being provided with longitudinallyextending arcuate slots, a notched compressor plate slidable along thenozzle, rods freely movable in the slots and engaging in the notches ofsaid plate, means for shortening the rods whereby the plate is caused toengage the sealing means to seat said means in the outlet, and means forreguiating-theflow of the cleansing fluid through the nozzle.

2. A means for attaching a cleaning apparatus to an object to be cleanedincluding in combination an injector nozzle having a threaded terminal,a sealing 'means carried by the nomle, a clamp adjustable to varyingsizes of outlets, slotted ears mounted on the clamp, a vcompressor plateslidable on the nozzle and engageable with the sealing means. rodsfreely movable in the slots and engaging the compressor plate, means onthe rods for varying the efiective length thereof, means mounted on thethreaded terminal and engaging the sealing means to prevent prematureexpulsion of the nozzle from the sealing means 49

